Best hotels in Shanghai

How to Find the Best Shanghai Hotels with Hotels.com

Shanghai, or Hu as it is known locally, is the most populous city in the world with over 24 million people, and is located along the Yangtze River Delta in East China. An important hub for global trade, Shanghai is often considered the modern face of China, and as you make your way through the thriving streets, outdoor markets, and bustling harbor areas, you can still see plenty of history and culture around every corner. Even the very name of Shanghai invokes thoughts of glamour, ancient culture, and exotic people. The city will appeal to those who want to experience authentic Chinese culture, or enjoy a romantic getaway. Choosing your ideal hotel in Shanghai from thousands can be a daunting task. With Hotels.com, you can find the ideal best suited to your budget and expectations with the help of thousands of user reviews, hotel photo galleries, and a location of the area around your hotel thanks to Google maps.

What's Shanghai Like?

Shanghai is a bustling and lively city, and perfectly encapsulates both the modern and new. Shanghai is well known for its markets and shopping streets, and there are none better than Yuyuan Old Street and Nanjing West Road Street, both of which feature traditional Chinese style architecture and dozens stalls selling quirky local items. History and culture buffs will enjoy the Shanghai Museum and China Art Museum with its many local archaeological finds and artifacts, as well as Moganshan Road, an entire street filled with creative graffiti by street artists. The Old French Concession is a popular piece of history, and is where French traders and diplomats would stay when the country was opened to the West.

Tips for Getting Along with Locals in Shanghai

The Summer months in Shanghai span from July to August, and temperatures can reach an average high of 31°C, although it has been recently recorded as high as 39°C on occasion. Although you can hitch a cab or rickshaw, Shanghai experiences heavy traffic congestion, making it a walking city for the most part, so bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. The high temperatures coupled with the convenience of walking, a backpack with bottled water will be essential in keeping you cool. The language in Shanghai differs from the mainland, as they speak the Wu dialect of Chinese. English is becoming more widely spoken in Shanghai, particularly with children and young adults. It would still be advised to carry a Wu pocket phrase book, just in case. You can virtually explore the area around your hotel prior to your visit by checking out the Google maps applet via the Hotels.com website.